Muzzle loading cup dispenser



Jan. 3, 1956 H. 1 BENNETT 2,729,528

MUZZLE LOADING CUP DISPENSER Filed Jan. 2, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Herbef L. Bennez Jan. 3, 1956 H. L., BENNETT 2,729,528

MUZZLE LOADING CUP DISPENSER Filed Jan. 2, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 InFEZ-E I Herb erf L. Bemef E H ,/,lmmwt dw WH rbi-75 United States Patent() `MUZZLE LoADrNG CUP DISPENSER `Herhert L. Bennett, Easton, Pa., assigner to Dixie Cup `Company,;Easton,.Pa., a corporation ot' Delaware .Application January z, 1953, sei-iai no. 329,257

6 Claims. (Cl. S12-43) This invention relates to improvements in a muzzle lfloading cup dispenser, particularly desirable for the individual dispensing `of paper cups, dishes, and the like, especially in sodafountains, lunch counters, vand thelike,

-wherein automatic pickup holders are utilized by the .operators with which to remove a cup or dish from a dispenser, although ,the invention wiii have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to oneskilled in the art.

Heretofore, it has been common in soda fountains and other` locations `where commodities are individually dispensed in papercupS, dishes, and the like, to utilize a stack of nested cups or` dishes on the counter or back bar, and remove the .terminal cup from the stack when a 4serving is to be made. `Most frequently a boxlike struclure was provided, far `larger than the diameter of the cups, and an inverted stack of paper cups placed `in that the entire `external surface of the cups. lt is therefore desirable fto provides dispenser in .the form oa easing, fullyenclosed except for an open end portion through Which a ,bottom part only of the terminal cup of the stack extends in an exposed condition. In some Vcases ...theseholders are mounted vertically and `the open-end is ,at the f bottom, while in othercases the holders` may `stand upon lthe counter, with `the open end at the .top and the stack of cups inverted. In `either case, it is desirable that at least several of the outermost cups cannot .move in- .wardlyas the stackbecornes depleted each time pressure .is applied against the terminal cup by the pickup holder, .because if they were .allowed to move inwardly, great .diileultyis experienced improperly anchoring `a cup nside the pickup holder. `Frequently, the `containers .or dispensers are loadedthrough the end opposite that from which the cups are removed. Where the cups are in upright Acondition and `taken from `the bottom `of the holder, `,that provides` no difficulty. .dispenser rests upon `a counter, and the cups `are in in- `vetted position, `it is desirable to `load `the Aholder through However, `where the `the discharge end and with arrangements .of this kind,

`thathas not heretofore been done.

With .the foregoing in mind, it is an important `object or" the.instant invention .to provide a muzzle loading `cup dispenser, wherein the outermost several cups `are `held ^against inward movement when pressure is applied to the terminal cup,.and wherein it is a simple expedient to push a stack of nested .paper cups through `the muzzle or discharge opening of the dispenser, when .loading `the same.

Another `object of the invention is `the .provision ofa dispenser for a stack of paper cups or `the like, which dis- -penser is equipped with means to` prevent inward movement of at least 'the terminal cup when pressuteis, applied against-itby a pickup holder, and which might be loaded ice through fthe rlmuzzle or discharge end merely .by .inserting a stack of cups therethrough, the operator having .no means to .adjustror operate in order to accomplishpthat purpose.

Itis also a feature of `'this invention to` provide ,a .dispenserfor a stack of nested paper cups, 4which dispenser is equipped with pivotal holding'rneans having projections to enter l,between adjacent cups, and prevent the cups out- .side the projections from being moved inwardly when pressure is applied against the terminal cup, as by means `of `agpickup holder, `said Apivotal holding `elements being so arranged asv to automatically pivot out of cup engaging position upon the entrance of a stack of cups into the dispenser through the discharge end thereof.

Yet another objectiof the invention is the provision of a dispenser for paper cups and the like equipped `with `movable holding meansadjacent the discharge end thereof arranged to prevent inward movement of at least a few of the vterminal cups upon pressure against the ter miual cup, -which holding means are provided with cam surfaces, permitting resilient means inside the holder to urge the stack of cups toward dispensing position, and ,alsotpermitting cups to -be placed in the holder through the discharge end thereof without any manipulation of mechanical parts by an operator.

lt is also a feature of the invention to provide a cup dispenser made of two identical halves, with a closure `at .oneend-carrying resilientmeans 4to urge the stack of cups .upper portion of a dispenser embodying principles of the instant invention, showing the same loaded with cups in dispensing position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary central vertical section through the structure of Fig. l, with parts shown in elevation, .illustrating the'means for preventing inward move ment of the outermost cups upon pressure being :applied `to the terminal cup;

Figure 3 is `a 'fragmentary sectional View similar in lcharacter `to Fig. 2, but illustrating how the dispenser may be loaded `through its muzzle or ldischargeend; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan sectional view through `thelbody or 'casing of the dispenser, illustrating the constructionof thesame.

As'shown on the drawings:

In the illustrated embodiment'of the instant invention, there is shown a dispenser for-paper cups and the like Aof the character that stands upon a'table or counter top, holds the stackof nested cups in invertedposition, and the dispensing is-done through an opening in the `topof the disjpenser casing. Itwill be understood, however, that the instantinvention `may `equally as well'be used in connection with Ia "dispenser from which the cups are `delivered through thebottom, if so desired.

Inthe structure selected for illustration, the dispenser comprises `a casing, generally `indicated by `numeral 1, and Which is preferably substantially cylindrical. This casing is formed of two parts `or,.hall portions?. and 3, as .best seen .in'Fig 4, these parts preferably beingidenticalsoias 4to render .manufacture more economical. YEach half por- ,.tion ofthe casing .Lis provided on oneside edge with` a ,projecting bead orf-tongue 4 extending lengthwise, and `on A`the 4opposite side :edge with a complementalgroove.5,ins

seen clearly in Figs. '2, 3 and 4. Thus the two half portions may be put together as seen in Fig. 4 with a somewhat interlocking engagement, and easily sealed together especially if the casing is made of a thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic material, although it will be understood that the casing may be made of any suitable or de- Y sirable material.

With reference now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the casing is outwardly flared at the bottom to provide a base portion 6. Inside this base portion the casing is pro- 'vided with at least two integral bosses 7-7 each threaded to accommodate a bolt 8 or similar securing element. By these means, a removable cover or bottom 9 is retained in position. Preferably between the cover and the respective bosses is a circular resilient foot 10 angular in cross section, and with one side portion extending below the casing proper, so that the casing may rest upon the resilient foot, not mar a counter or table, and remain stably in position.

Preferably secured to the inside face of the cover 9 is one end portion of a coiled spring 11, the opposite end of which is secured to the inside of an inverted cuplike support 12 on which a stack of nested containers 13 may seat. The same arrangement, of course, would be utilized whether the dispenser is of the character shown with the dispensing opening at the top, or mounted so as to dispense through an opening at the bottom.

Near the top thereof the casing 1 is provided with a pair of opposed outstanding bosses 14-14, each of which is equipped with an external resilient detent 15. These detents snap lock over a suitable shoulder in a collar-like centrally open cover or head 16.

Preferably at diametrally opposed points inside the head, transverse pivot pins 17 are xed in position. On each such pivot pin is a depending pivotal holding element or dog 18. A suitable leaf spring 19 mounted on the pivot pin behind the dog, constantly urges the dog inwardly to the position seen in Fig. 2. Preferably the springs 19-19 are less powerful than the aforesaid cup or container supporting spring 11. With reference more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that at the inner end of each dog is a projection or jaw 20 which enters between the mouths of adjacent cups in thestack 13 as indicated in Fig. 2. These jaws, therefore, prevent inward movement of the stack of cups when pressure is applied axially to the terminal cup of the stack, such as by an automatic pickup holder for the removal of that terminal cup. It is usually necessary to engage the holder with a terminal cup by a 'sudden forceful movement, and if the stack of cups moved inwardly against the action of the spring 11 on such engagement of the holder, the cup would be insecurely seated in the holder. However, with several of the outermost cups held by the dogs against inward movement, a positive engagement between the holder and the terminal cup is readily and easily made. All this results substantially regardless of the carelessness of the operator and the variances in pressure between the removal of successive cups. It will further be noted that the underside of the jaw 2t) is provided with what may be termed a cam surface 21, upwardly arcuate, so that the stronger spring 11 may force cups outwardly past the jaws ready for dispensing as the stack is gradually depleted. The cups then, as seen in Fig. 2, come up against another arcuate or cam surface 22 near the outer end of the jaw. These opposed cam surfaces 22-22 restrain the cups from leaving the holder until intentionally removed therefrom, and the brim of the cup can easily flex in passing the surfaces 22, since the grip exercised upon the terminal cup by the holder is sufficient for that purpose.

On the outer end of each dog 18 is another inwardly inclined cam surface 23. This surface is to be contacted by incoming cups as designated at 13a in Fig. 3. As the casing 1 is loaded by a new Supply of cups, as indicated by the incoming stack portion 13a in Fig. 3, the cups contact the cam surfaces 23-23 of the dogs, and cause these dogs to pivot into disengaged position, that is, away from the stack of cups as seen in Fig. 3, so that ready entrance of the new supply of cups is permitted. Thus, the dispenser is readily loaded from the muzzle or discharging end. When the new supply of cups is in the casing 1, the spring 11 urges the stack upwardly into discharge position, and the dogs swing into engagement with the stack to the position seen in Fig. 2, and the dispenser is ready for further work. It will be especially noted that no parts need be manipulated by the operator in order to remove the terminal cup of the stack at any time, or to reload the dispenser. It is a simple case of utilizing a gripping holder or the fingers to extract the terminal cup, and a simple proposition of merely pushing more cups into the dispenser'when reloading is needed.

The instant invention also meets all sanitary requirements of various locations, in that the entire dispenser may be cleansed vwhenever necessary. It is a simple expedient to press out the spring detents 15-15, remove the head together with the dogs, remove the bolts 8` at the Y bottom to take olf the plate 9 along with the spring and cup support 12, take out the cups if any remain, and the entire casing 1 is completely naked inside for cleansing purposes.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a simple and easily operable muzzle loading dispenser which automatically restrains the outermost cups from inward movement upon pressure being applied to the terminal cup, and which may readily be restocked or loaded with cups through the muzzle end by the simple expedient of pushing the cups into the casing. t

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts Vof the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a paper cup dispenser, a casing, means therein to support an inverted stack of nested paper cups, said casing having an open top through which terminal Vcups may project, spring urged holding means adjacent the mouth of said casing and having projecting means to enter between the mouths of adjacent cups of the stack and restrain inward movement of the cups thereabove when pressure is applied to the terminal cup, and cam surfacing on said holding means in position to be contacted by entering cups to move the holding means away from engagement with the cup stack, whereby the dispenser may be loaded through the open end of said casing.

2. In a paper cup dispenser, a casing, means therein to support an inverted stack of nested paper cups, said casing having an open top through which terminal cups may project, pivoted dogs adjacent the open end of said casing having projections to enter between the mouths of adjacent cups and prevent the outer cups from moving into the casing when downward pressure is applied to the terminal cup, and cam surfaces on said dogs above said projections for contact by entering cups to pivotV the dogs to disengaged position, whereby the casing may be filled with cups through the open end thereof.

3. In a paper cup dispenser, a casing, means therein to support an inverted stack of nested paper cups, said casing having an open top through which terminal cups may project, pivoted dogs adjacent the open end of said casing having projections to enter between the mouths of adjacent cups and prevent the outer cups from moving` into the casing when downward pressure is applied to the terminal cup, resilient means urging said dogs into engagement with the cup stack, and cam surfaces on the outer portions of said dogs above said projections for contact by entering cups to pivot the dogs to disengaged position against the action of said resilient means, whereby the casing may be loaded through said open end.

4. In a muzzle-loading cup dispenser, Va casing open at the top, resiliently and upwardly urged supporting means for an inverted stack of nested paper cups in said casing, a centrally open head on said casing, holding members pivoted to said head and having projections to enter beafnam tween the mouths of adjacent cups of a stack and prevent inward movement of the cups above said projections when pressure is applied to the terminal cup, said holding members having cam surfaces on the underside to pennit said supporting means to push cups thereby, and cam surfaces on the tops of said holding members to be contacted by cups pushed into said casing when loading whereby said members are pivoted to bring said projections into disengaged position.

5. In a muzzle-loading cup dispenser, a casing having an open end through which the casing is loaded and through which cups are dispensed, said casing holding a stack of nested paper cups with the terminal cup projecting bottom first through said opening, holding elements adjacent the open end of the casing and having projections to enter between adjacent cups in the stack and prevent inward movement of the outermost cups when pressure is applied to the terminal cup, and cam surfaces on said holding elements for contact by entering cups to move said holding elements to cause withdrawal of said projections.

6. In a muzzle-loading cup dispenser, a casing having an open end through which the casing is loaded and through which cups are dispensed, said casing holding a stack of nested paper cups with the terminal cup projecting bottom first through said opening, pivoted holding elements adjacent the open end of the casing, projections on said elements to engage between adjacent cups in the stack and prevent inward movement of those outside the projections, resilient means urging said elements into cup engaging position, and cam surfaces on said elements for contact by incoming cups when the casing is loaded to move the projections to disengaged position against the action of said resilient means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,207,092 Sullivan Dec. 5, 1916 1,940,067 Wessman Dec. 19, 1933 2,073,328 Wasserlein Mar. 9, 1937 2,261,880 Hope Nov. 4, 1941 2,365,916 Terry Dec. 26, 1944 2,606,087 Tansley Aug. 5, 1952 

